Apparatus for retreiving microimages

ABSTRACT

A microform reader wherein two holders for discrete microforms are movable in parallel horizontal planes below two objectives whose focal planes coincide with the planes of microforms in the respective holders. A light source furnishes a light beam which is deflected at right angles to the planes of the microforms and the objectives are mounted on a carrier which is pivotable by the holders to place the one or the other objective into register with the deflected light beam. Alternatively, a mirror which reflects the light beam can be mounted on a reciprocable carrier which can place the deflected light beam into register with one of the two objectives which are then fixedly mounted in the housing. The carrier for the objectives or for the mirror can receive motion from a slide which is reciprocable by the holders.

United States Patent r191 Pfeifer et al. V

[73] Assignee: Agfa-Gevaert Aktiengesells'chaft,

Munchen, Germany [22] Filed: Apr. 4, 1972 [21] Appl. No.2 240,981

Related US. Application Data [63] Continuation-impart of Ser. No.238,762, March 28,

l972, Pat. No. 3,718,391.

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data Apr. 6, 1971 Germany 2116813 [52]US. Cl. 353/27, 353/101 [51] Int. Cl. G031) 21/11, G03b 23/08 [58] Fieldof Search 353/25-27, 100,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Harding 353/26 [451 Feb.19,1974

Primary Examiner-L0uis R. Prince Assistant ExaminerA. J. MirabitoAttorney, Agent, or FirmMichael S. Striker [57] ABSTRACT A microformreader wherein two holders for discrete microforms are movable inparallel horizontal planes below two objectives whose focal planescoincide with the planes of microforms in the respective holders. Alight source furnishes a light beam which is deflected at right anglesto the planes of the microforms and the objectives are mounted on acarrier which is pivotable by the holders to place the one or the otherobjective into register with the deflected light beam. Alternatively, amirror which reflects the light beam can be mounted on a reciprocablecarrier which can place the deflected light beam into register with oneof the two objectives which are then fixedly mounted in the housing. Thecarrier for the objectives or for the mirror can receive motion from aslide which is reciprocable by the holders.

15 Claims, 2 Drawing Figures APPARATUS :FQR RETREIVING MICROIMAGESCROSS-REFERENCE TORELATED APPLICATION This is a continuation-impart ofour copending application SenNo. 238,762, now-U'S Pat. No. 3,718,391filed Mar. 28, I972 and entitled Microfilm Reading Apparatus.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The presentinvention-relates toimprovementsin microfilm reading or microimage .retrieving apparatus. Moreparticularly, the .invention relates to improvements in microfilmreading apparatus of the type wherein several micro-forms are mounted indiscrete holders which are located in different planes and are movablewith and/or relative to each other in order to place selected microformsinto a projection position in which the image of such part of theselected microform is enlarged and projected onto an observation screen.Still more particularly, the invention relates to improvements inapparatus wherein a selected part of any one of several microforms canbe rapidly moved across the path of a directed light beam so that itsimage can be enlarged and observed on a screen or the like.

Presently known microfilm reading apparatus comprise a single objectivewhose focal plane must be placed into register with the planes ofmicroforms. This normally entails lengthy adjustments when the userwishes to terminate the observation of one or more parts of a firstmicroform in order 'to begin the observation of one or more parts of asecond microform which is located in a different plane. Such mode ofoperation is time-consuming. Our aforementioned copending applicationdiscloses an apparatus wherein a single adjustment to the objectivesuffices to insure accurate focussing onto several microforms which arelocated in different planes.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the invention is to provide anovel and improved microfilm reading or microimage retrieving apparatus.wherein the objective means which is used to project the imagesofselected parts on any one of several microforms neednot be adjusted'atall when the user Wishes to.switch from the observation of one microformto the observation ofv another microform or vice versa. I

Another object of-the invention is to provide the microimage retrievingapparatus with novel and improved objective means for projecting'theimages ofselected parts of any one of several parallelrmicroforms onto ascreen or the like.

A further object of the invention is to provide a microimage retrievingapparatus wherein the time which is spent to project a selected part ofany one of several microforms onto a screen is shorter than inheretofore known apparatus.

An additional object ofthe invention is to provide an apparatus whichneed not be provided with'any means for moving the objective means atright angles to the planes of several parallel microforms.

Still another object of theinvention-is to provide novel and improvedmeans for supporting theprojection lamp and other components of theilluminating system in an apparatus for the reading of microfilms whichare mounted at different levels.

The invention is embodied in a microimage retrieving apparatus whichcomprises a plurality of holders each arranged to support and preferablyconfine a discrete microform or microsheet in one of a plurality ofparallel planes, a first unit which includes a discrete objective foreach holder whereby the focal plane of each ence to the other unit andrelative to the guide means so as to maintain the microforms in theirrespective planes and to place a selectedpart of the microform in aselected holder between the respective objective and the light directingmeans while the light beam impinges upon such objective whereby theobjective projects the image of the selected microform part.

The carrier means may be pivotable or reciprocable between its positionsand the light source may be mounted on such carrier means if the lattersupports the second unit. Such second unit may comprise a lightreflecting mirror or an apertured diaphragm.

The holders are preferably movable to and frompredetermined endpositions in which their microforms are without the range of therespective objectives. The apparatus preferably further comprises meansfor moving the carrier means to different positions in response tomovement of different holders to their respective end positions. Thearrangement is such that, when a holder .is moved to its end position,the moving means automatically moves the objective for the microform inanother holder into register with the light directing means or viceversa, depending upon whether the carrier means supports the first orthe second unit.

The novel features which are considered as characteristic of theinvention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. Theimproved microimage retrieving apparatus itself, however, both as to itsconstruction and its mode of operation, together with additionalfeatures and advantages thereof, will be best understood upon perusal ofthe following detailed description of certain specific embodiments withreference to the accompanying drawing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a fragmentary perspectiveview of an apparatus which embodies one form of the invention andemploys two movable objectives; and

FIG; 2 is a similar fragmentary perspective view of a modified apparatuswhich employs two fixedly mounted objectives. 1

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring first to FIG. 1,there is shown a portion of a microfilm reading or microimage retrievingapparatus which comprises a housing supporting a pair of spaced apartparallel horizontal guide members in the form of tie-rods 1 and 2serving to support and guide a main slide or carriage 3 for movementtoward (arrow A) and away (arrow B) from the observer of the image whichappears on a suitable screen, not shown. Reference may be had to ouraforementioned copending application which shows that the screen ispreferably mounted in the housing at a level above the objective means.

The carriage 3 supports two additional horizontal guide members or tierods 4, which are parallel to each other and normal to the tie rods 1,2. The tie rods 4 and 5 respectively support pivotable and reciprocableholders 6, 7 each of which has a rectangular frame fixedly supporting alower transparent panel 6a, 7a and pivotably supporting an uppertransparent panel 6b, 7b. The 'lower holder 6 is reciprocable along thelower tie rod 4 of the carriage 3 in directions indicated by the arrowsC and D. Furthermore, the lower holder 6 is pivotable about the axis ofthe tie rod 4, and its upper panel 6b is pivotable with reference to thelower panel 6a about an axis which is parallel and preferably closelyadjacent to the tie rod 4. In this manner, the user of the apparatus cangain access to the space between the panels 6a, 6b in order to remove apreviously observed microfilm sheet or microform and to replace suchmicroform with another microform. The construction of the holder 7 isanalogous, i.e., this holder is also movable in directions indicated bythe arrows C, D and is pivotable about the axis of the respective tierod 5. Furthermore, the upper panel 7b can be pivoted to afford accessto a previously observed micro-- form and to allow rapid replacement ofsuch microform with a different microform. The manner in which theforwardly and downwardly extending projections or handgrip portions 60,7c of the holders 6, 7 can be slid along a supporting plate (which ispreferably transparent) ispreferably the same as disclosed in ourcopending application. The lower portion of the housing of the apparatusmay be provided with a stack of drawers for storage of microforms. Whenthe handgrip portions 6:", 70 rest on the aforementioned supportingplate, the parallel planes of the microforms between the panels 6a, 6band 7a, 7b are spaced apart by a distance a. The four panels arepreferably of identical thickness and have identical sizes.

Lateral stops 3a, 3b on the carriage 3 limit the extent of movement ofthe holders 6, 7 along the respective tie rods 4 and 5. Analogous stops(not shown) are provided in the housing to limit the extent of forwardand rearward movement of the carriage 3 along the tie rods 1 and 2. Thedistance a is sufficient to insure that the holder 6 can be moved at alevel below the lower panel 7a of the holder 7 and that the holder 7 canbe moved at a level above the upper panel 6b of the holder 6.

The apparatus further comprises a first unit consisting of twoobjectives 8, 9 which respectivley serve to project the images ofselected parts of microforms in the holders 6 and 7. The objectives 8and 9 are mounted in a carrier lever 11 which is pivotable about thevertical axis of a shaft 10 mounted in the housing of the apparatus. Theobjectives 8 and 9 are preferably ofidentical type and are mounted inthe carrier lever 11 in such a way that the focal plane of the objective8 coincides with the plane of a microform between the panels 6a, 6b ofthe holder 6 and that the focal plane of the objective 9 coincides withthe plane of a microform between the panels 7a, 7b of the holder 7.Thus, the distance between the focal planes of the objectives 8 and 9equals the distance a. As shown in FIG. 1, the

objectives 8 and 9 are mounted closely adjacent to each other and shareall pivotal movements of the carrier lever 11 about the axis of theshaft 10. If desired, the carrier may be provided with means foradjusting the positions of objectives 8 and 9 so as to insure that thefocal plane If each of these objectives conicides exactly with the planeof the microform in the associated holder.

The apparatus further comprises a projection lamp or an analogous lightsource (see the lamp 27 of FIG. 2) which emits a beam 15 of light whichis reflected by a suitably positioned mirror 13 mounted in the housingat a level below the plane of the lower holder 6. The mirror 13 reflectsthe light beam 15 through the aperture ofa stationary diaphragm 14 whichis mounted in the housing and serves to'confine the beam substantiallyto the area (12) which is to be viewed when the projection lamp is on.By pivoting the carrier lever 11 between two end positions, the user canplace the illuminated area 12 into register with the objective 8 (forobservation of a selected part of the microform in the holder 6) or withthe objective 9 (for observation of a selected part of the microformbetween the panels 7a, 7b of the holder 7). FIG. 1 shows the objective 8in register with the area 12, i.e., the apparatus is ready to allow forobservation of a selected part of a microform between the panels 6a, 6bof the holder 6. ln order to place a selected part of such microforminto register with the area 12 and objective 8, the user simply graspsthe handgrip portion 6c and moves the holder 6 with the carriage 3(arrow A or B) whereby the carriage slides along the tie rods 1, 2and/or the user moves the holder 6 with reference to the carriage 3(arrow C or D) by slidingthe holder 6 along the respective tie rod 4.This enables the user to rapidly place a selected part of the microforminto projection position. The objective 8 projects the image of theselected microform part against a mirror 16 which in turn deflects theimage against one or more additional mirrors (not shown) before theimage reaches the observation screen of the apparatus.

By pivoting the carrier lever 11 in the direction indicated by the arrowAA, the user can move the objective 9 into register with the aperture ofthe diaphragm 14 whereby the apparatus is ready to permit observationofa selected part of the microform which is located between the panels7a, 7b of the holder 7. The user then simply manipulates the handgripportion 7a of the holder 7 in order to superimpose a selected part ofsuch microform upon the area 12 whereby the objective 9 projects theimage onto the screen by way of the mirror 16 and one'or more additionalmirrors. By replacing the mirrors 13, 16 (and the other mirrors) withmirrors of greater width (as considered in the longitudinal direction oftie rods 4 and 5), the apparatus can be readily modified in such a waythat the objective l4 (and the illuminated area 12) could be shiftedback and forth to thereby change the positions of the objectives 8 and9. The diaphragm l4 constitutes the light directing means of asecondunit which is fixedly mounted in the housing.

in order to insure automatic placing of the objective 8 or 9 intoregister with the diaphragm 14, the apparatus of FIG. 1 furthercomprises means for moving the objective 9 into register with thediaphragm 14 in response to movement of the holder 6 to a predetermined(right-hand) end position and for moving the 'o'bjective'8 into registerwith diaphragm 14 in response to movement of the holder 7 to apredetermined (lefthand) end position. In the illustrated apparatus,such automatic moving means comprises a slide 19 which is formed withelongated slots 17a, 18a for two stationary guide pins 17, 18 so that itcan move in directions indicated by the arrows -C and D. The slide 19 isprovided with downwardly extendingmotion receiving pins and 21 which arepositioned in such way that the slide 19 is moved to its right-hand endposition by way of the ,pin 20 in response to movement of the holder 6to the right-hand end position and that the slide 19 is moved to itsleft-hand endposition (by the pin 21) in response to movement of theholder 7 'to the left-hand end position. The median portion of the slide19 is provided with two motion transmitting projections or studs 22, 23which can pivot the carrier lever 11 for the objectives 8 and 9. Thearrangement is such that, when the user of the apparatus grasps thehandgrip portion 6a and moves the holder 6 to its right-hand endposition, the right-hand edge face of the holder 6 engages the motreceiving pin 20 shortly before the holder '6 reaches the right-hand endposition, i.e., during a predetermined stage of movement of the holder 6to such end position, whereby the slide 19 moves in the directionindicated by the arrowC and its motion transmitting stud 23 pivots thecarrier lever 11 in the direction indicated by the arrow AA so as tomove the objective '9 into register with the illuminated area 12 andhence into register with the diaphragm 14. The user thereupon proceedsto manipulate the holder 7 by way of the handgrip portion 70 so as tosuperimpose a selected part of thern'icro'form between the panels 7a, 7bupon the illuminated area 12 whereby the image of such selected part isprojected onto the screen.

If the user thereupon decides to move the holder 7 to its left-hand endposition, the left-hand edge face of the holder 7 engages and entrainsthe pin 21 shortly before the holder 7 reaches such end position. Thiscauses the pin 21 to entrain the slide 19 in the direction indicated bythe arrow D, and the motion transmitting stud 22 pivots the carrierlever 11 counter to the direction indicated by the arrow AA so as toplace the objective 8 back into register with the diaphragm 14 as soonas the holder 7 reaches its left-hand end position. The arrangement ispreferably such that the microform between the panels 6a, 6b is locatedto the right of the illuminated area 12 when the holder 6 reaches itsright-hand end position, and that the microform between the panels 7a,7b is located to the left of the illuminated area 12 when the holder 7reaches its left-hand end position. It will be seen that the placing ofthe holder 6 or 7 into the corresponding end position automaticallyentails a movement of the objective 9 or 8 into register with thediaphragm 14. This simplifies the manipulation of the apparatus sincethe user need not be concerned with adjustments of the carrier lever 11;such adjustments are effected automatically in response to movement ofthe microform in the holder 6 or '7 from a position of overlap with theilluminated area 12. The light beam 15 which is directed by thediaphragm 14 is at least substantially normal to the planes ofmicroforms in the holders 6 and 7.

FIG. 2 illustrates a portion of a modified apparatus with a first unitincluding two fixedly mounted objectives 8, 9 and a second unitincluding a movable diaphragm here shown as a light-deflecting mirror l6which is mounted on a reciprocable carrier 30. The manner in which theholders 6 and 7 are mounted on the tie rods of a reciprocable carriage(not shown) is the same as described in connection with FIG. 1. Theobjectives 8, 9 are mounted on a stationary supporting plate 34 in suchpositions that their focal planes respectively coincide with the planesof the microforms between the panels of the holders 6 and 7. The slide19 is identical with or analogous to the slide 19 of FIG. 1. Its motionreceiving pin 20 engages one arm of a two-armed motion transmitting anddirectionreversing lever 25 which is fulcrumed in the housing, as at 24,and the other arm 25a of which is bifurcated to receive a post 33 of thecarrier 30. The latter is guided in'bearing members 31, 32 of thehousing and, in addition to the aforementioned diaphragm or mirror 26,supports the projection lamp 27 which is located in front of a reflector28 and behind a system of condensor lenses 29. The mirror 16 of FIG. 1is replaced by a wider mirror 35 which can project the image of aselected portion of the microform between the panels of the holder 6 orbetween the panels of the holder 7. When the slide 19 is caused to movein the direction indicated by arrow C or D, the lever 25 causes thecarrier 30 to move in the direction indicated by arrow D or C.

The main difference between the apparatus of FIGS. 1 and 2 is that theobjectives 8, 9 are stationary and that the light directing means 26 ismovable with the illuminated area 12 between the solid-line position ofregister with the objective 8 and the phantom line position 26' ofregister with the objective 9. Thus, instead of supporting theobjectives 8 and 9, the carrier 30 of FIG. 2

supports the light directing means 26. The manner in which the carrier30 is moved by way of the motion receiving pin 20 inresponse to movementof the slide 19 to its right-hand or left-hand end position is clearlyanalogous to the manner in which the studs 22, 23 on the slide 19 of-FIG. 1 can pivot the carrier lever 11.

The apparatus of the present invention is susceptible of many additionalmodifications. For example, two or more objectives can be used withadvantage in apparatus of the type disclosed in Pat. No. 3,319,5l8 toCarlson wherein the holders for discrete microforms cannot moveindependently of each other, i.e., wherein such holders form a packagewhich is movable as a unit. Also, the apparatus of FIG. 1 or 2 canemploy more than two holders and an equal number of objectives.

Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist ofthe present invention that others can, by applying current knowledge,readily adapt it for various applications without omitting featureswhich fairly constitute essential characteristics of the generic orspecific aspects of our contribution to the art and, therefore, suchadaptations should and are intended to be comprehended within themeaning and range of equivalence of the claims.

What is claimed as new and desired to be protected by Letters Patent isset forth in the appended claims: 1. In a microimage retrievingapparatus, the combination of a plurality of holders each arranged tosupport a discrete microform in one ofa plurality of parallel planes; afirst unit including a discrete objective for each of said holders, eachobjective having a focal plane coinciding with the plane of-themicroform in the respective holder; a source of light arranged tofurnish a light beam; a second unit including means for directing saidlight beam substantially at right angles to said planes; carrier meanssupporting one of said units and movable between a pluralityof-positions in each of which the directed light beam impinges upon adifferent objective; and guide means for said holders, said holdersbeing movable with reference to said units and relative to said guidemeans so as to maintain the microforms in their respective planes and toplace a selected part of the microform in a selected holder between therespective objective and said light directing means while the light beamimpinges upon such objective so that the latter projects the image ofthe selected microform part.

2. The combination of claim 1, wherein each of said holders comprises apair of transparent panels located at the opposite sides of therespective plane.

3. The combination of claim 1, wherein said one unit is said second unitand said light directing means comprises a diaphragm.

4. The combination of claim 3, wherein said light directing means alsocomprises a light reflecting mirror.

5. The combination of claim 1, wherein said one unit is said first unit.

6. The combination of claim 5, wherein said carrier means is pivotablebetween said positions thereof.

7. The combination of claim 1, wherein each of said holders is movableto and from a predetermined position and further comprising means formoving said carrier means to a different one of said positions thereofin response to movement of different holders to the re- 11. Thecombination of claim 10, wherein said one unit is said first unit.

12. The combination of claim 7, wherein said carrier means isreciprocable between said positions thereof and said one unit is saidsecond unit.

13. The combination of claim 12, wherein said means for moving saidcarrier means comprises a reciprocable slide and a lever pivotable abouta predetermined axis and having first and second arms respectivelycoupled with said carrier means and said slide.

14. The combination of claim 13, wherein said lever is arranged to movesaid carrier means in a first direction in response to movement of saidslide in a second direction counter to said first direction, and viceversa.

15. The combination of claim 13, wherein said source of light is mountedon and shares the movements of said carrier means.

1. In a microimage retrieving apparatus, the combination of a pluralityof holders each arranged to support a discrete microform in one of aplurality of parallel planes; a first unit including a discreteobjective for each of said holders, each objective having a focal planecoinciding with the plane of the microform in the respective holder; asource of light arranged to furnish a light beam; a second unitincluding means for directing said light beam substantially at rightangles to said planes; carrier means supporting one of said units andmovable between a plurality of positions in each of which the directedlight beam impinges upon a different objective; and guide means for saidholders, said holders being movable with reference to said units andrelative to said guide means so as to maintain the microforms in theirrespective planes and to place a selected part of the microform in aselected holder between the respective objective and said lightdirecting means while the light beam impinges upon such objective sothat the latter projects the image of the selected microform part. 2.The combination of claim 1, wherein each of said holders comprises apair of transparent panels located at the opposite sides of therespective plane.
 3. The combination of claim 1, wherein said one unitis said second unit and said light directing means comprises adiaphragm.
 4. The combination of claim 3, wherein said light directingmeans also comprises a light reflecting mirror.
 5. The combination ofclaim 1, wherein said one unit is said first unit.
 6. The combination ofclaim 5, wherein said carrier means is pivotable between said positionsthereof.
 7. The combination of claim 1, wherein each of said holders ismovable to and from a predetermined position and further comprisingmeans for moving said carrier means to a different one of said positionsthereof in response to movement of different holders to the respectivepredetermined positions.
 8. The combination of claim 7, wherein saidmeans for moving said carrier means comprises motion transmitting meansfor moving said carrIer means during predetermined stages of movement ofsaid holders to the respective predetermined positions.
 9. Thecombination of claim 7, wherein said means for moving said carrier meanscomprises a reciprocable slide.
 10. The combination of claim 9, whereinsaid carrier means is pivotable about a predetermined axis which isparallel to the optical axes of said objectives.
 11. The combination ofclaim 10, wherein said one unit is said first unit.
 12. The combinationof claim 7, wherein said carrier means is reciprocable between saidpositions thereof and said one unit is said second unit.
 13. Thecombination of claim 12, wherein said means for moving said carriermeans comprises a reciprocable slide and a lever pivotable about apredetermined axis and having first and second arms respectively coupledwith said carrier means and said slide.
 14. The combination of claim 13,wherein said lever is arranged to move said carrier means in a firstdirection in response to movement of said slide in a second directioncounter to said first direction, and vice versa.
 15. The combination ofclaim 13, wherein said source of light is mounted on and shares themovements of said carrier means.